Food processor having detachable spring-loaded lid

ABSTRACT

A food processor having a detachable, spring-loaded lid is provided. The lid is pivotally connected to a work bowl via a spring-loaded hinge that biases the lid to an open position. A manually operable latch on the lid opposite the hinge allows a user to close the lid and lock the lid to the work bowl.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/809,480, filed on Apr. 8, 2013, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to food processors and, more particularly, to a food processor having a detachable, spring-loaded lid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Food processing devices providing a number of different types of food preparations, such as mixing, grinding, chopping, slicing, grating, shredding, or other processing operations, are well known. Existing food processing devices typically include a base housing an electric motor, a drive shaft driven by the motor, a bowl receivable on the base and a lid or cover having a feed tube releasably mounted to the bowl. A rotatably driven blade is mounted to the drive shaft to process one or more food items inside the bowl.

While existing food processing devices are generally suitable for what is regarded as ordinary performance, there is room for improvement in terms of ease of use, functionality and ergonomics.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a food processor having a detachable lid.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a food processor having a detachable, spring-loaded lid.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a food processor having a lid that substantially eliminates drippings from the lid.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a food processor having a lid that includes a latch for securing the lid.

These and other objects are achieved by the present invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a food processor having a detachable, spring-loaded lid is provided. The lid is pivotally connected to a work bowl via a spring-loaded hinge that biases the lid to an open position. A manually operable latch on the lid opposite the hinge allows a user to close the lid and lock the lid to the work bowl.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be better understood from reading the following description of non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein below:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food processor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a detachable, spring-loaded lid of the food processor of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, detail view of a hinge mechanism of the detachable, spring-loaded lid of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the detachable, spring-loaded lid of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, detail view of the detachable, spring-loaded lid of FIG. 4, illustrating the containment of lid drippings.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a detachable, spring-loaded lid having a latch according to an embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a locked position thereof.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the detachable, spring-loaded lid having a latch of FIG. 6, illustrating an unlocked position.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the detachable, spring-loaded lid having a latch of FIG. 6, illustrating an unlocked and raised position.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the detachable, spring-loaded lid having a latch of FIG. 6, illustrating a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a food processor 10 according to the present invention is shown. The food processor 10 includes a base 12, a work bowl or receptacle 14 received on the base 12, and a lid 16 configured to be selectively removable from the work bowl 14. Base 12 includes a motor or other rotary drive mechanism (not shown) connected to a rotatable output shaft 18 for rotatably driving a blade interior to the work bowl 14 and may include controls (not shown) for varying settings of the motor.

As further shown therein, work bowl 14 is generally cylindrical or frusto-conical in shape and has a handle 20 and a pour spout (not shown). The lid 16 defines a substantially circular body sized and is dimensioned to cover work bowl 14. The lid 16 also includes a feed tube opening (not shown). The feed tube opening may be generally oval in shape, although other shapes and dimensions are envisioned without departing from the broader aspects of the present invention.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the lid 16 may also include a feed tube 22 defining a substantially annular body having a substantially oval cross-section extending upwards from the lid 16 and in communication with the feed tube opening. As is well known in the art, the feed tube 22 provides a chute through which a user may load food items to be processed into the work bowl 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the lid 16 is pivotally connected to the work bowl 14 via a spring-loaded hinge 24 that is configured to bias the lid 16 to an open position, as shown in FIG. 2. As best shown in FIG. 3, the spring-loaded hinge 24 includes a spring-biased leg 26 operatively connected to the lid 16 that is received in a corresponding slot 28 in an upper portion of the handle 20 on the work bowl 12. A pushbutton 32 on the hinge 24 allows a user to quickly and easily decouple the lid 16 from the bowl 12 by depressing the button 32 for cleaning and the like.

As also shown in FIG. 2, the lid also 16 includes a latch 30 on the front thereof, opposite the hinge 24. The latch 30 is configured to engage an upper portion of the bowl 14 adjacent to a pour spout 34, which allows a user to lock the lid 16 in a closed position. In operation, the spring-loaded hinge 24 allows the lid to gently spring open, to the position shown in FIG. 2, when the latch 30 is manually released by a user. To close the lid 16, a user simply exerts downward pressure on the 16 to bring it into engagement with an upper lip of the bowl, and then secures the lid to the bowl via the latch 30.

Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the lid 16 further includes a circumferential lip 36 protruding from a bottom of the lid. As shown, therein, this lip 36 ensures that any drippings of processed food items from the lid 16 go back into the bowl 14, rather than spill outside the bowl 14. In particular, the circumferential lip 36 is dimensioned (and protrudes from the underside of the lid to such an extent) such that the lip 36 extends to a radial location inward from an outer peripheral lip of the work bowl 14 when the lid 16 is in its fully open position.

FIGS. 6-9 illustrate manual operation of the latch 30. In particular, FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the opening of the lid 16 via the latch 30. Conversely, FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the closure and locking of the lid to a work bowl 14.

Although this invention has been shown and described with respect to the detailed embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the above detailed description, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of this disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A food processor, comprising: a base; a motor disposed within said base; an output shaft operatively connected to said motor and extending outwardly from said base, said output shaft being rotatable upon actuation of said motor; a work bowl received on said base; and a lid pivotally connected to said work bowl and selectively movable between a first position, in which said lid rests atop said work bowl and substantially encloses an interior of said work bowl, and a second position, in which said lid is spaced from said work bowl, said lid including a spring-loaded hinge having a spring biased depending leg that is detachably received in a corresponding slot in said work bowl, which biases said lid away from said work bowl and toward said second position; wherein said lid is selectively attachable to and detachable from said work bowl; wherein when said lid is decoupled from said work bowl by detaching said spring biased depending leg from said work bowl, said spring-loaded hinge remains attached to said lid; wherein said lid includes a releasing means, said releasing means being selectively actuatable to detach said lid from said work bowl; and wherein said releasing means includes a pushbutton on said hinge, said pushbutton being selectively actuatable to detach said lid from said work bowl.
 2. The food processor of claim 1, wherein: said lid includes a circumferential lip depending from an underside of said lid, said circumferential lip being dimensioned such that said circumferential lip extends to a radial location inward from an outer peripheral lip of said work bowl when said lid is in said second position.
 3. The food processor of claim 1, wherein: said lid includes a feed tube extending from said lid and adapted to receive a food product therethrough for guiding said food product into said work bowl.
 4. The food processor of claim 1, wherein: said work bowl is removably received on said base.
 5. The food processor of claim 1, wherein: said work bowl includes a handle and a spout opposite said handle, said slot for receiving said depending leg being formed in an upper portion of said handle.
 6. The food processor of claim 1, wherein: said lid includes a latch opposite said hinge, said latch being configured to selectively engage a lip of said bowl to retain said lid in said first position against said bias of said spring biased depending leg.
 7. A food processor, comprising: a base; a motor disposed within said base; an output shaft operatively connected to said motor and extending outwardly from said base, said output shaft being rotatable upon actuation of said motor; a work bowl received on said base; and a lid pivotally connected to said work bowl and selectively movable between a first position, in which said lid rests atop said work bowl and substantially encloses an interior of said work bowl, and a second position, in which said lid is spaced from said work bowl, said lid including a spring-loaded hinge having a spring biased depending leg that is detachably received in a corresponding slot in said work bowl, which biases said lid away from said work bowl and toward said second position; wherein when said lid is decoupled from said work bowl by detaching said spring biased depending leg from said work bowl, said spring-loaded hinge remains attached to said lid, said hinge includes a pushbutton, said pushbutton being selectively actuatable to detach said lid from said work bowl. 